Life's Tidbits

"Mommy, you're the best girl in the whole world."  3 year old son in response to me giving him a napkin to clean his face.  I'm just thrilled he called me a girl!  :)

Yummy Granola!

I've always loved granola and wanted to make my own, especially now that my son eats it every morning for breakfast.  This recipe from My First Kitchen has inspired me to try and actually do it!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars

• 2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts (or whatever nut you have around)
• 1 cup crispy rice cereal
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut (totally optional)
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips
• 3 tbsp ground flaxseed
• a pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup honey
• 3 tbsp dark brown sugar
• 1/3 cup smooth peanut butter (or any other nut butter you like)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Toss together the oats and chopped nuts on a baking sheet lined with foil (for easy clean up), and toast those for 10-15 minutes until they're barely golden. You're just looking to take some of the raw texture out of both.
2. In a large bowl, toss together the cereal, coconut, chocolate chips, flaxseed, and salt. Once the oats and nuts are done, add those to the same bowl, and toss everything together.
3. In a small saucepan, combine the honey and sugar over low heat, and stir that until the sugar dissolves. Be sure to keep stirring so the mixture doesn't burn. Add the peanut butter and vanilla, and stir over super low heat until everything is combined. Try not to eat this stuff with a spoon.
4. Now add the peanut butter mixture to the oat mixture, and stir together really well. Press it into a square 8x8 dish with a sheet of wax paper if you don't want your hands to get gross. You can also spray the pan with a little nonstick spray if you think about it. Don't fret if you forget.
5. Let everything cool in the fridge for a bit so the bars can set up. Cut them into squares (nine big ones or sixteen small ones), and keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for a good week. Or just break the granola into pieces; some of it won't stay in bar form anyway.

LOST Love

LOST rocks!  I'm going to miss it when it's finished.

Tonight's episode:  

• OMG, I knew "the package" was Desmond.  
• I'm so sad that Sayid is not Sayid anymore.  I have a feeling that the Island Sayid will not last.
• Not much of Sawyer today...too bad.  The more Sawyer the better.  
• I'm ready for the "war" to start.  Who knew that Charles Widmore was one of the good guys?
• The Jin and Sun love story is sweet and man, Jin looked good in those flash backs.
• Love Jack again...

Inspiring People

Do you ever watch the Extreme Home Makeover?  The few times that I've seen it I cried like a baby.  But tonight I watched Dateline NBC: Circle of Hands and instead of having a show renovate a home, it was a local town deciding that a family among them was in need and coming together to do something amazing.

If you can still catch it, It's worth watching.  Again, cried like a baby practically throughout the whole thing.

We hear so much on the news about the horrible things people do to each other, crimes, war, tragedy, hardship...it's everywhere.  But then you also see that even in these hard economic times people are so generous, so thoughtful and so full of love for their fellow man.

It so inspiring and heartwarming and it reminds me to do more and give more in my own life.

How Far Would You Go For Your Craft?

Anyone watching Spartacus on the Starz channel?  OMG, it is insanely violence and sexual.  How do these actors do it?  Especially the nudity...it's crazy.  All these women and men walk around absolutely naked for long segments of the show...full frontal.  I'm not sure I would do that for my craft!

It Must Be Wrong

Is it wrong to resent the other similar aged mother on the beach with two little kids just because she has a perfect bikini body?

Remembering The Sweet Moments

You know how there are those small moments in life that completely blow you away emotionally.  Beautiful moments you wish you could bottle and release when things don't look so rosy?

I had two of them recently with my oldest son.  And for no other reason than to make sure I remember them, I'm writing them down:

I was shepherding my boys up the stairs to get ready for bed.  My oldest son stopped, looked up at me and asked me to carry him.  I haven't carried him up the stairs in years since he's almost five but I was feeling nostalgic of the time when he was a little boy so I said sure.  I lifted him up and held him tight against me.  He put his arms around me neck, leaned his head on my shoulder and whispered "you're the best mommy in the world, I love you so much."  OMG, I melted inside but tried to keep it together and just said "I love you too."

A few days later....

After having a few hours of some special one-on-one time with him, I caught him staring into the distance.  I asked him what he was thinking about.  He looked up at me with his big brown eyes and said "I was thinking about what to make for you to say thank you for what you did."

Again, OMG, could life be like this every day?  

Write down the special moments with your kids somewhere so you can go back and remember them when they're teenagers that just grunt at you and run up to their rooms.   :)

Betrayed By Cheerios

This is just wrong.  Cheerios and chocolate.

I struggle each day to keep sugary things, candies, and chocolates away from my children and then this comes out.

I'm just hoping that they don't see it.  I don't want to have to explain why they can't have their favorite cereal (the real one, with no extra colors or sugars) and their favorite (and occasional) treat cannot, under any circumstances, become their breakfast.

I know how this goes, eventually they will be exposed to it and once they have it, it will be so hard to go back to a time when they had no idea what it tasted like.  That's what happened with chocolate milk.  I was able to keep my children from having any chocolate milk until my son was four and a half years old.  Then one day at a friend's house the other kids were having it and they got it and the rest is history.  I was OK with that because I was there to make that decision and thought it was the right time. 

I'm not opposed to chocolate milk, cookies, ice cream or any other treat, per se, and I support a free market economy but I find it so offensive when cereal companies or any other food companies that primarily market to children, create products that even the most lenient of parents would find completely inappropriate.

A Little Me A Little Celebrity!

I've been dying to tell you all the details of our trip but work has completely consumed me.   It's been a pretty tough few weeks in fact and it's made me rethink my priorities.  More on that later!  Once this work project is over I'll get back to posting a lot more often.

For now, I wanted to leave you with an update on Conan and a tell you about a little cat fight and how I'm connected to it!

Conan just announced that he is doing a 30 city comedy tour called The Legally Prohibited From Being On Television Tour (is that hilarious or what?) and apparently he is not going to be making any money from the tour, he's only doing it to keep the members of this former show working for a while longer!

I knew I liked him for a reason.  He is just decent and funny to boot!

And on a much sillier and cattier note, apparently there is a big feud between Millionaire Matchmaker Patti Stranger and Real Housewives of NY Bethenny Frankel.  I'm not sure of all the details but there is some name calling going on over Patti's friend Jill Zarin from the Housewives show.

I don't watch either show (although I have seen a few minutes of each show in years past), but the reason I bring it up is that I actually "met" Bethenny a few months ago and she made quite an impression on me.


I was in NY for the Sherlock Holmes premier (I know, how fancy of me...but I was just a guest of a friend of a friend) and while standing in the lobby of my friend's apartment building I saw Bethenny walk in with her dog.  Since we were in a small lobby facing each other, I smiled and said "hi, how are you?"  Honestly, I didn't even realize who she was at first.  I thought it was someone I knew because her face was familiar.  Well, she looked at me with what can only be described as a mixture of indifference and disdain.  It was so rude.  I asked my friend about it and she said that Bethenny had just moved into the building and was already giving people the nose up attitude.  These reality TV people are just ridiculous.


That's my media news for today! :)

It's Not Called A Vacation

I just got back home after a few days of what some people may call vacation but I would argue deserves another name.

Two little kids (first ever trip to a place other than grandparents' house), freezing cold weather, tons of stressful work (I know, why am I working on vacation?), hotel room with not enough beds, change in time zone (the worst part for especially the 3 year old), irregular foods (you know what I mean...kids get so used to certain foods), sleep deprivation for everyone, and a two-flight trip across the country without the husband.  If it wasn't for the lovely friend I was visiting and her adorable kids, I would have really kicked myself for doing that trip at all!

I will elaborate soon (as I'm passing out from fatigue and still have to put the kids to bed) but needless to say, I will think very carefully before doing this again.

Oscar Night!

It's here...Oscar night!  I thought for some reason that I could sit uninterrupted with my girlfriend, whom I'm visiting on the west coast, and enjoy all the Hollywoodenss of the evening with lots of yummy food.  But that's not going to happen.  You see I brought my kids because I just didn't want to be without them but now sitting in my girl friend's house I realize that taking care of my two boys and her taking care of her two boys, all four under 6 years old, will prevent us from bundling up in front of the TV for the night.

But, we will try our best!  I'll be running in and out of the TV room trying to get as much of the Oscar stuff as I can while playing mediator, child care professional, chef and the rest of the things that go with being a mom.

So without further a adieu, here goes my commentary on the evening:

- Sandra Bullock's dress...GORGEOUS!  Wow.

- LOVE Jennifer Lopez's dress but seriously didn't like Sarah Jessica Parker.  Not to be catty but Sarah is looking really old these days.  I like her generally but that dress and hair made her look worse than she usually looks.  Jennifer Lopez, that girl's got some good make up and eye brow people...she's looking good.

-LOVE Meryl Streep and that white dress is great I think.  It looks good on her and works I think.  What do you think?

-OK, strange way to start the night...not sure if I liked it...maybe.

- OMG, why is Neil Patrick Harris doing this beginning song?  I LOVE him.  He's so perfect.  What a fun surprise?  He was so great doing the Emmys!

-What do you think of the two host thing?  Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin!  I so love Alec Baldwin...he was beyond funny in It's Complicated.

- I so don't like Quentin Tarantino.  His movies are so violent and dark.

- What's up with George Clooney?  He seems like he is devoid of all humor tonight.  He keeps making faces at the hosts.  Maybe he just doesn't like award shows.

- What a GREAT montage of John Hughes movies.  Loved those.

- Short film acceptance award...what happened there?  The woman interrupting the guy trying to make his acceptance speech.  It was so weird and awkward.

- Mo'Nique's speech was good.  She looks great.

The middle is pretty boring.  Nothing to report.

What do you think so far!?

- Yeah!!! The Argentinean movie won the best foreign movie.  Congrats to my dear friends from Argentina! :)

- Best leading man...what a great presentation.  I loved how they had each actor being introduced by a close colleague.  Not a surprise win....I so wish I had seen Crazy Heart!

-Best leading actress...what amazing women!  And did we know Oprah was going to grace us with her presence?  I was surprised.  I love Meryl Streep and loved the movie.  But Sandra Bullock is so lovely.  And what a great speech.  So true.  The mothers that love their babies, no matter where they come from. Love.

-First best woman director...awesome...it's about time!  :)

Wow, surprise best movie!  I have definitely got to see it now.  Congratulations to The Hurt Locker!

You're Invited!!

Hi ladies!  It's almost Oscar night and I'm super excited.  I didn't get to see all the Oscar movies but I did make a good a dent.  I saw Nine, Up In The Air, An Education, Avatar, Julia and Julia, Up and The Hangover (OMG so funny!).

Since I can't do an Oscar party I'm going to do something almost as good, I'm going to have a virtual Oscar Party.  There will be champagne, caviar, yummy hors d'oeuvres, and lots of decadent desserts (well, pictures of them anyway).

I'm going to do a running commentary of the Oscars from the dresses, to the speeches, to the who should and shouldn't have wons!

Please drop by if you have a minute and join me in an Oscar night extravaganza.  I'd love to hear what you think of all the Oscar night elements.  I'll be responding to all comments and hoping to get a good old fashion Oscar row going on the very precise science of best actingness.  :)

Are you going to watch?  Any fun plans for the night?

A Little Post Olympics Humor

David Letterman is usually pretty funny, especially when he does the Top Ten lists with the actual celebrity talking about himself.  If you like Evan Lysacek or Letterman's Top Tens, I think you'll get a kick out of Evan listing off his top ten thoughts during his gold medal performance!  His reading is kind of awkward but since he's an Olympic athlete and not a TV performer, I gave him a pass. :)

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

I think this song is hands down the most beautiful rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, besides the classic one by Judy Garland of course!  It's sung by a Hawaiian singer named Israel Kamakawiwo'ole who unfortunately dies in 1997.

I've probably listened to it several hundred times.  It's so lovely!

The Oldies But Goodies!

One of my oldest and dearest friends from high school is visiting.  There's something so special about spending time with someone that's known you for so long.  From when I was a strange insecure thirteen year old girl to me now as a little less strange and mildly more secure woman.

And knowing each other as mothers now, wow, that part is so great.

:)

To Old To Pattinson

I don't get it.  Seriously, am I just way too old to understand the ridiculous global hype about this guy?  Granted, I have not seen any of the Twilight movies nor read the books but still, wouldn't you think that if this guy was all that the millions of crazed fans think he is I would at least be able to understand the appeal?  He's just a better than average looking young guy.  There are dozens of them all over the place in Hollywood.  Why him?
 

Sweet 5 Year Old

I saw this on Sherilee's blog, Sweet Tea and Sunshine, and I had to share it.  It made me laugh and tear up at the same time.

It's a clip from the Bonnie Hunt show about a 911 call from a 5-year-old girl. My son is almost five so it hit home in a familiar way. I could just feel her vulnerability and maturity as she was talking to the dispatcher.

The Other F Word

There's been a lot of talk about the issue of fatness recently.  With ABC's Nightline debate or "face off" between the fat "supporters" and the fat "haters," Kirstie Allen's appearance on Ophra to talk about her new show on her weight struggles, and Kevin Smith's too-fat-to-fly incident, just to name a few (very few as it's on almost every morning show and cable news program).

It's been frustrating listening to all the media reports on this issue.  Every story the media does is either about how fat is killing America or let's love ourselves no matter how fat we are (as evidenced by the Nightline piece).  Neither of these really address the very serious issue of health.  Everyone is scared of offending one group or another.  Is it OK to be fat?  Obviously there is no one answer to this, even if the media wants to boil it down to a yes or a no.  Like most things in life, it depends on the particular facts of the case (can you tell I'm a lawyer?).

Science is science and no matter how uncomfortable it makes some groups, it's important to look at how weight and physical condition is impacting your overall health.  Does it matter if your size is not what one group or another considers "beautiful" or "sexy" or anything else desirable?  No, not really.  Standards of beauty are so diverse - throughout the world and throughout the ages.  So I completely support the notion that you should love yourself and feel beautiful regardless of media or society's norms, whether you're bigger or smaller than what these norms dictate.  However, I reject the notion that you should do that with a blind eye towards your own health and physical well being.

Here's a picture of the Nightline debate.  The video of the debate is included in the link above.

Here's the video about Kevin Smith's ordeal.  I think his situation raises a bunch of issues of its own but my thoughts on that will have to wait for another time.  :)

The Dirty Underbelly of Politics

Today, John Edward's right hand man, Andrew Young and his wife, Cheri, were on Oprah talking about their involvement in the national deception that Edwards orchestrated about his affair and the child that came out of that affair.

The interview was horrendous and shocking.  I've written previously about how disgusted I've been by Edwards' decisions regarding his affair but this interview not only confirmed my feelings but if possible, elevated my disrespect for this man.

Andrew Young talked about his book and all the details of the deception that he and his wife participated in.  It was clear in the interview that Andrew and his wife were looking for sympathy for what they've been through.  But all I saw was two unethical self serving people that participated in an incredibly sad and dirty cover up and then when they realized that they were not going to be "taken care of" by Edwards, were willing to air everyone's dirty laundry for money. 

The whole thing makes me sick to my stomach.  Here is the piece on Oprah's website where you can see a short video and read the interview. There was one thing that the couple said that I do agree with, Elizabeth Edwards is the biggest victim of this ugly mess.

I was going to post a picture of Andrew and his wife but honestly, I just didn't want their image on my blog.

Yummy On A Stick!

One word.  Yum!

Isn't this the sweetest picture ever?  These are little cupcakes on a stick from Bakerella.  Here she is on Martha explaining how to make them!  I found the picture on Mon Cheri's blog and just can't stop looking at it and smiling.  :)

An Education Indeed

I saw a great movie recently.  It's an Oscar movie to boot.  It's called An Education.  I'm not sure if a lot of people have heard of it (I hadn't) as it's not your typical Hollywood movie, but if you get a chance I would recommend it.  It's very well acted, especially by Carey Mulligan, the girl that plays the main character.

It's about a 16 year old girl in 1960s England who gets seduced by an older charismatic man.  The movie is filled with surprises, most of which for me was how the parents handle this situation.  I found myself both identifying with her as a young girl opening her eyes to the world around her and also scared for her as she takes more and more steps towards adulthood.  I don't want to give anything away in case you see it but it is definitely one of those movies that makes you think and talk about it after you leave the theatre.

If you've seen it, I'd love to know what you thought!

Here's a trailer for the movie:

The Mystery of Snookie

Can someone please tell me why the Jersey Shore show is so popular?  I just don't get it.  Do people watch just to make fun of these kids?  Do the mistakes of others make watchers feel good about their own decisions?  Is ridicule now a national pass time?  Or is it just fun?  What do you think?

Snookie, the Situation (what the hell kind of names are these?) and the rest of the gang are on the View today.

Why?

Getaway To Thomasville

I am at the airport on my way home from a lovely weekend with my husband and some friends (sans kids!).  I always look forward to our weekend getaways like a little kid looks forward to Christmas.  I dream about it while the kids are climbing all over me, I smile about it as I'm running around the kitchen making the third meal and/or snack that is being demanded by each child, and I hunger for it as I patiently listen to my children yelling my name throughout the house.

And then the day finally comes and we're off.  Ready to enjoy a few days of grown up conversation, meals without interruption, and maybe even a movie!  And at first I love it.  Reading my book on the plane in silence without anyone climbing all over me wanting my attention.  But after a day or so the joy of being free turns into an emptiness.  I just don't feel right without the kids and the three or four calls to them doesn't do anything to help with my yearning to fly right back home.  I love being alone with my husband and I have a blast when we get to see our friends but I just don't like being away from the kids.  Part of it is the worry of something happening and me not being there and the other part is simply missing their presence around me.  Being able to give them a hug or kiss and seeing their smiling face.

Having said all that, I still love getting away for a few days.  It helps me recharge and allows me to look at my life with a fresh perspective.

And it's also fun seeing new places.  Here are a few pictures from our visit to the Pebble Hill Plantation in Thomasville, Georgia!  It was such a lovely town.

Real People, Real Stories

To me, there is nothing as beautiful and important as a person's story.  Everyone's story is meaningful no matter who they are and to put down that story in words is magical and transformative.  I hope one day to take this journey but for now I'm happy reading about other people's journeys.

I've always loved memoirs but a few years ago I read one called The Glass Castle that just blew me away.  If you haven't read it, I highly recommend picking it up, you will be moved by this woman's life.

Ever since reading her book, I've been even more drawn to memoirs.  Real stories by real people.  Incredible stories of love, joy, suffering, tragedy, redemption, pain, strength, family, and everything else you could possible imagine.  I wonder now why I would spend my few precious hours reading anything but these.  Why read made up stories when there are such beautiful words about real life.

In the last year or so, I've read a bunch of interesting memoirs including The Middle Place, Open, Eat, Love, Pray, The Mistress's Daughter and Driving With Dead People.

Now I'm reading a great one called Hope's Boy.  It's about a boy that was thrown into the foster care system, his struggles and ultimate survival and his unending love of the mother that couldn't take care of him.  As a mother, it's hard to read in parts but also beautiful and moving.  

Have you read any of the ones I mentioned above?  I would love any memoir recommendations that you have! :)

The Time Thief

Two hours of my life that I'll never get back.  It was not well written, directed, thought through or acted.  I do not recommend this movie....

A Little LOST Fun

I'm so loving Lost these days. Yes, it's frustrating being twisted around the crazy minds of the writers and having to maneuver through all mysteries and puzzles but I'm starting to see it come together and it's fun!

I really liked the last episode. One thing that kind of made me laugh was the little boy. Throughout this show whenever you think you have reached the "one" with the most power, whether it be, the Others (several iterations), Ben, Lock, Jacob, the smoke (as Lock), you suddenly find that in fact there is something (or someone) more powerful bossing around the one that you thought had the power.

So now the little boy, whom I'm assuming represents the Island, is the one that gets to tell the evil Lock what to do. And Sawyer, man, he's got some guts on him just following Locke knowing he very well might kill him at any moment.

And I loved last week when he confessed his deep love of Juliet. They were by far my favorite couple during this show...I found the way they came together and fell in love so romantic...and I loved Sawyer for finding that after being so jaded all his life.

Going back to the power struggle, we have (1) the Asian head of the Others in the Temple, (2) Jacob, while dead still able to be present; (3) the smoke in Locke, (4) the "chosen" ones which include Sawyer, Said, Jack etc.; and (5) of course, probably the most powerful one, the Island (seen in the boy?).

I'm sure I'm missing a whole bunch of things but that was my quick and dirty summary of it. Then I found this amazing Wikipedia page outlining the description and history of each character. OMG, I could easily waste many hours reading this. Yes, folks, I'm little obsessed.

And in honor of the obsession, here are a couple of videos:

OMG, so funny, all the nicknames Sawyer has used; parts 1 and 2!






A Letterman top 10 list from a million years ago...still pretty good!



And if you still haven't had enough, here's Jimmy Kimmel in Hawaii with the Lost cast and crew:

Love That Karen Walker!

Anastasia is not my real name.  I chose it for my blog some time ago and have loved it every since. It's been so much fun!  I've enjoyed being able to have some privacy for myself and my family and also share my life with you and be part of this great blog world.

How did I choose that name you might ask?  Well, after some thought, I zeroed in on Anastasia Beaverhausen from the TV show, Will and Grace.  I used to love that show and that was a name that Karen would use when she was going incognito.  It made me laugh and I loved Karen's spunk and craziness so I decided that I would take it on.

Here's a few fun clips...go to 2:33 for Karen using her alias! :)



And this one is SO much fun.  It's a montage of Karen clips to the song Sex Bomb.  This made me laugh out loud!




And here's some fun Karen Walker bloopers from the show!



OMG, I could do this all day!  Love that Karen.  :)

Here's To The Girls Night Out

When it comes time to leaving the house for a girls night out I always hesitate.  I'm desperate to stay home.  Usually it's because I'm tired from a long day of kids, working, errands or simply running around and I just want to stay home and relax with my husband.  But then I think of my dear friends that are going to be trekking out (in this freezing weather) to meet me at whatever fun location we've decided to gather and I muster up all the energy I have left and head out the door.

I'm still not totally on board when I reach the restaurant but then we all get there and hug and settle in for a night of girl talk.  And within minutes I feel so lucky to have such wonderful friends in my life.  Friends to share the daily ups and downs of being a mother, a wife and a woman.  We share so much of ourselves without fear of judgement.  We laugh with each other at the silly things and encourage and support each other for the more serious moments.  We talk and talk until late in to the night and leave the place with a big smile on our faces.  

Thank goodness for girls nights out!

A Little Soap Box - Young Girl Peagants

While getting my occasional Golden Girls fix on the WE tv channel, I am periodically accosted by a commercial for the most horrible show called Little Miss Perfect.  It's a show about little girl beauty pageants and even though I have never seen it (nor do I have a little girl of my own), I shutter at the entire notion of this show.

The commercials show these little girls, as young as around 5 years old, being paraded around stage with tons of make up and completely inappropriate "show" cloths.  Then they show the mothers telling their  girls what they did wrong on stage and the girls breaking down in tears.  And then they show the "world-renowned pageant expert," so proud of his job, showing the girls how to strut just right on stage.  

The whole thing makes me sick to my stomach every time I see it.  Am I missing something or is this just seriously wrong!  And gross, and weird, and bad and sad.  Seriously, I just wonder how any mother could do this to their impressionable wide eyed just-learning-what-it-means-to-be-a-human being-in-the-world little girl.  Seriously!  Am I missing something?

Yo Gabba Gabba Conspiracy?

So I have this dear friend that has a dilemma.  Her daughter wants to have a Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party but she's completely opposed to the show.  She says that it has inappropriate overtones of an....how should I put this on my PG blog....intimate nature.  She says the name of one of the characters is very similar to a really bad word (which I had never heard of but she promised to share with me when we were in more adult company) and also she says that the shape of one of the characters is too similar to an intimate female contraption (and apparently she's not the only one!).

I find the show annoying personally but I've watched it with the kids and I think it has nice songs and good messages for kids - be nice to your friends, share, don't be scared, don't hit, etc.

I'm curious if you have ever heard this theory among moms?